26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Greek spin on Stephanie Plum - not necessarily a good thing..., July 5, 2005
When I purchased this book, I thought it would be similar to the Stephanie Plum series - in fact, I think that's why this book was recommended to me. However, I wasn't expecting it to be close enough to Janet Evanovich's series that it borders on unoriginal rip-off. But, that's what this is - a rip-off.
The parallels between the Plum series and this book are too many to count, but to name few:
1) Both leads work on the fringes of law enforcement (bounty hunter v. private investigator).
2) Both leads have sexy foreign "helpers" who send mixed romantic signals.
3) Both leads have a penchant for stumbling into gun fights or other dangerous situations.
4) Both leads have eccentric families and mothers who think they don't eat enough.
5) Both leads, at one time or another, live in an apartment building with a cast of wacky characters that add color to the story.
6) Both leads have a cheating husband (soon-to-be husband in Sofie's case) in their pasts.
And these are just a few of them - if only a couple of similiarities existed, SOFIE METROPOLIS would just be reminiscent of ONE FOR THE MONEY (and others). Instead, the author has decided that just changing minor details of the store is enough to keep readers interested. The author even has Sofie reading an Evanovich book in the story! Come on!
Now, to the rating - I'm giving it 3 stars. I happen to like the Plum series, so I'm not surprised that this book was recommended for me. And since I've made my way through 10 or so of those books, I obviously have some dedication to the genre. I found SOFIE METROPOLIS generally enjoyable - once I discovered that this book could have just as easily been titled Stephanie Plum Goes Greek or Beta for the Baklava, I stopped getting as distracted by the similarities and could get into the story.
Bottom line - not the worst thing I've read, but nowhere near the best. If you're looking for a fresh perspective on the comic female investigator genre, look elsewhere. If you're biding your time until the next in the Plum series is available, this isn't a bad choice.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stehanie Plum clone from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, August 10, 2005
Where to start with the similarities? Stephanie caught her hubby with his pants down "in flagrante" on the kitchen table, Sofie caught her fiance in the church w/the maid of honor. Stephanie has a mysterious Cuban (?) hunk who shows up at odd moments, Sofie has a mysterious Australian hunk who shows up at odd moments. Stephanie has a wacky family featuring a short, wacky grandma, Sofie has a wacky family featuring a short, wacky grandpa. And on and on.
Is it enjoyable? Only if you haven't read any of the Evanovich series and haven't seen the Wedding movie. Otherwise, you'll be wondering why no one has sued for plagarism.
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A big fat Greek motormouth, April 10, 2006
Like the other reviewers, the first thing I noticed about this book were the uncanny parallels to Stephanie Plum. Janet Evanovich must be very flattered--it's the only reason I can think of that she hasn't sued the authors. Then I tried to enjoy the book by pretending I had not read Stephanie first--and I still didn't like it.
The challenge of writing in the first person is that you have to move the action along while narrating it. Sophie Metropolis never shuts up long enough to get anywhere. The book is essentially a long monologue about her Greek family, Greek food, her sexual urges and her cheating ex-fiance. She is supposed to be a private eye, but she spends very little time actually investigating anything. Most of the time she is talking, talking, talking about her favorite subject--Sophie Metropolis. Even when she does begin to actually do something, like make a move on Jake Porter--the Australian version of Ranger--she interupts herself with another digression. The fiance cheating in the church five minutes before the wedding got tired, too. One telling establishes how she became a private eye, abandoning a stellar career as a waitress. By the third or four repeat, I must admit I sided with Thomas the Toad. He probably found someone who shut up now and then.
This could have been a cute spoof. I mean, how many PI's investigate the neighborhood vampire? But each incident leads to another detour. In the end, I just got lost and gave up. I can't believe this writing team got a contract for a second book in this series. One Sophie Metropolils is too many.
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